Combination atjtomobile-lamp



I. R. PAGIN.

COMBINATION AUTOMOBILE LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6, I915.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

IIIIIIIIIIIIII I MINI CL R i TIL- 1.

JAMEQ B. PAGIN, OI VALPABAISO, INDIANA.

commune AUTOMOBILE-LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Application filed December 6, 1915. Serial No. 65,211.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES R. PAom,

citizen of the Uniteo States, residing at Valparaiso, in the county of Porter and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Automobile-Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in combination automobile lamps and it appertains more especially to the significant features pointed out in the annexed claims.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a dual system of lamps that may be used singly and independently of each other; that may be connected in parallel, or in series with each other; that may have dimming resistances connected in series therewith; that will specially diffuse the rays from a secondary source of illumination; that pro-' vides two separate lamps, whether in one or two reflectors; that modifies the secondary rays by an overlapping portion of the primary reflector; that dispenses with the usual door; that provides a sealing in method of attaching the door frame to the casing; that may utilize an interconnecting switch system which causes certain results to follow certain movements so as to automatically retain the correct relation between the major and minor lamp at all times preventing a chaufl'eur from becoming confused in changing over the lamp connections for one purpose or another and thus avoid the glare of high power lamps for city driving or when meeting another vehicle in country use.

With these and other ends in view I illustrate in the accompanying drawing such an instance of adaptation as will show the broad underlying features without limiting myself to the specific details disclosed.

Figure 1. Is a front elevation. Fig. 2. Is a side elevation in section. Fig. 3. Is a lan view in section through the lower re ector. Fig. 4. Is an enlarged elevation in sectionof the reflector and glass holding detail. Fig. 5. Is a front elevation of a dual system applied to a single reflector. Fig. 6. Is an elevation in section of Fig. 5.

I may use any suitable casing 1 to support my lamps 14-15 and reflectors 8,

When two reflectors are used as shown in F1g. 2 they may be laced above each other, the upper edge 21 of the lower reflector proectmg in front of the upper one. To accomphsh this the upper one has a part of its lower portion trimmed off so as to rest on the lower reflector at 11 where it may be soldered or fastened in any suitable manner to prevent rattling.

The reflectors have flanges 7 which they may be secured to; anges 4 of the reinforcing rim 2 by screws 9. The frame 2 may be riveted to casing 1 or otherwise fastened therein. serves to seal in the edges against admission of moisture, dust etc., and it also becomes a cushion for the glass front 5. This is held in place by a retaining frame 3 held against rim 2 by screws 10. The outline of the glass 5 may follow the general shape of the casing.

7 Frame 2 has an upper circular opem'ng 2O conforming to the outline of the reflector and it also has a companion circular opening for the lower reflector. These two openings meet at 22 forming points that project toward each other.

In order that the rays from the secondary source of light 14 may be additionally modified I may have the glass 5 ground over the upper portion of the front, leaving a clear area opposite the primary lamp 15. These spaces may have an desired shape as instanced in Figs. 1 'an 5 or otherwise. The lamp 14 may also be of less candle power than 15. Suchan arrangement of parts eliminates objectionable glare, provides for identification when a car is parked and immediately makes a hi h power lamp. available for country drivm or a low power one for city driving. 11' the latter lg means of case the smaller lamp will still furnish enough illumination to safel drive with in country districts when meeting another vehicle, without subjecting the driver of either machine to the confusing glare of headlights or the uncertainties of passing each other under inadequate illumination.

The reflectors are provided with socket hubs 12 in which a bayonet tube is adjustably held by thumb screws 13. This provides for adjusting the lamps into proper A layer of'felt 6 7 position in the reflectors. At the inner ends of these tubes the lamps are secured and at the outer end plugs are attached to short cords l6 and 17 are inserted. The cords lead to plug 24 which has four-way terminals. It is inserted in the inner end of tube 18 that is soldered to the casing. A companion plug 25 connects the wires 36, 37 and 38 to switches 14 and 15.

In connecting and disconnecting lamps l4 and 15 I may use ordinary separate switches if such are desired in which each switch is entirely independent of the other, and cause the switch levers to engage various contacts to control the lamps in any desired combination. Should it be desired I may connect the switch levers 39 to each other by a link 28 so as to cause them to move simultaneously and thus prevent confusion or oversight when changing from one position to another. I have instanced various combinations of contacts, which may be followed in their entirety if a user wishes to do so or a part of the combinations may be omitted and only a few of the more frequently used ones retained.

The interconnected switches have levers 39 suitably pivoted to any insulating base, not shown in the diagrammatic portion of Fig. 2. Current is supplied from battery 32 to segments 30 from where levers 39 distribute it successively to contacts I, III, V and VI of switch 14 and I, II, V, VII and IX of switch 15. All the contacts of switch 14 lead to wire 37 serving lamp 14 and those of switch 15 lead to wire 38 to serve lamp 15, the common return being over wire 36. Contacts I and VII and and VI of both switches lead first to a dimming resistance 35. The last contact IX of each switch in connection with block 31, arm 39 and segments 33 and 34, on account of end 27 insulated by 26 from the main lever 39 of switch 14c engaging only segment 33 by which both lamps may be connected in series, producing an identifying luminosity while a car is parked that is more economical of the battery current than using a resistance in series with a lamp. The switches can be operated from one handle 29.

The various combinations that can be effected by the switches instanced may be briefly outlined as follows: The I position places both lamps in series with a separate resistance for each; position II connects lamp 15 and disconnects lamp 14; position III reverses the connections of II; in position IV both lamps are out; position V puts both lamps in circuit at full power for emergency use in case of break downs etc.; position VI dims lamp 14 through resistance 35 but puts lamp 15 out; VII reverses the last connections and connects lamp 15 but disconnects lamp 14; VIII is an idle position and IX connects both lamps in series. During all the changes from I to VII inclusive the return circuit 36 remains unbroken through lever 27 contacting with both segments 33 and 34.

The casing may have brackets 40 secured on the outside, or on the inside with only the bosses projecting through; or in case the entire casing is cast thin of aluminium the brackets 40 and rim 2 would be formed integral with it. Frame 3 may have hinges if desired.

What I claim is: 3

1. In automobile lamps, a sin 1e casing, a lamp unit comprising a pair 0 reflectors attached to each other so that the curved portion of one partially stands in front of the other, a separate lamp for each reflector, means for holding the unit in the casin means for independently focusing eac lamp, and means for selectively supplying current to the lamps.

2. In automobile head lights, a sin le casing, an illuminating unit supported t ereby, said unit comprisin reflectors and separate lamps for each re ector, the reflectors being secured to each other so that the circular front of one passes over the major portion of the adjacent part of the other, and means for supplying current to the lamps over variable connections.

3. In automobile head lights, a single casing, an illuminating unit supported therein, said unit comprising a pair of reflectors so positioned with respect to the casin and to each other that a portion of one re ector is placed in front of a art of the other so as to obstruct the ascen ing rays from the latter reflector.

4. In an automobile head light, a single casing, an illuminating unit comprisin a pair of reflectors placed one above the ot er so that the two axes are a less distance apart than the diameter of either reflector, the body of one being removed to form a clearance for. the other, and means for supporting the same within the casing.

5. In automobile lam s, an elliptical casing, a similarly shape light transmittin front therefor, a dimming portion exten ing over. a portion of the upper part of the ellipse so as to form a circular transparent surface below the same, independent reflectors behind each surface res ectively conforming in shape to said sur tces, a source of illumination for each reflector, and means for supplying current to the illuminators separately or simultaneously.

6. In automobile lamps, an elliptical casing, a similarly shaped light transmitting front or door. therefor, a diffusing surface extending over the upper ortion of said front, a pair of reflectors coated between movable elliptical shaped rim adapted to be clamped against the glass by means of fastenings therefrom to the casing.

In'testimony whereof I afiix' my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. PAGIN.

Witnesses:

H. M. Jnssnn, LESTER A. Saunas. 

